* In the OT God made four covenants - with Noah, Abraham, Israelites (through Moses), and King David.

* Covenants were all about BLESSING - “I’ll do this if you do this.”

* This is extremely important because it’s the backdrop to Christ’s “opening message.”

* What would He talk about?

* “BLESSED” is the first word out of His mouth.

* Wiersbe - “to them (blessing) meant ‘divine joy and perfect happiness.’”

* vs 3-12 talk about “experiencing” a blessing - living the “blessed” life.

* vs 13-16 talk about “being” a blessing (just like what God promised Abraham).

* The list of blessings are spoken as cause and effect:

* vs 3 - You want the kingdom of heaven? Then you can't think of yourself more highly than you ought.

* vs 4 - You want to be comforted? Then you must mourn over your own sin and the sins of your nation.

* vs 5 - You want to inherit the earth? Then you must be submissive to God and walk in His strength.

* vs 6 - You want to be filled? Then you gotta be hungry for what God can fill you with - desire to be "right" with Him.

* vs 7 - You want mercy from God? Be merciful to other.

* vs 8 - You want to see God? Be pure, live holy - no impurities.

* vs 9 - You want to be a child of God? Live peacefully with others and help them live peacefully as well.

* vs 10 - You want the kingdom of heaven (repeated from verse 3)? Then be willing to suffer for Christ.

* vs 11-12 - these verses encourage the hearers because what Christ said in verse 10 probably shocked them.

* vs 13-16 - Two ways to BE a blessing:

* 1) Salt - “you ARE salt”

* 2) Light - “you ARE light”

* Jesus was talking about identity.

* ** Note ** Jesus talked about blessing (Abraham) before He talked about Law (Moses) in vs 17.